1 Reply Latest reply: Oct 30, 2014 6:47 PM by Stan Jones RSS

    How can I create seamless intro and outros in Encore DVD menus?

    White Lily Films Community Member
    White Lily Films Oct 30, 2014 5:16 PM

      Hello. I am using Encore CS6, and would like to have an intro animation seamlessly transition into the main menu which loops if no selection is made. After a selection is made I would like my outro animation to play before playing my feature timeline. I would like to know how to do this without any black frames popping up during these transitions.

       

      I have been doing much research on this, and it seems that I should create an animation with the intro and looping menu in the same video file, and set the loop point where the intro becomes the menu.

       

      Then my only questions are how do I have the buttons visible only during the looped portion, and how do I provoke the outro to seamlessly play before my feature when selecting a button?

       

      Thanks so much for any help.

       

      Best,

      -Stephanie

       

       

      EDIT: I have found you can link your buttons to transition with a video file. This isn't exactly seamless, but it works.

       

      I am still trying to figure out how to make the button icons appear later in the menu, without separating the intro from the menu completely. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

       

      EDIT 2: By selecting Default Button: None you can effectively erase the button from the intro animation. I would like, however, for the button to appear at a certain point, but this does not seem possible. I guess the user will have to select a button manually.

        • 1. Re: How can I create seamless intro and outros in Encore DVD menus?
          Stan Jones CommunityMVP
          Stan Jones Oct 30, 2014 6:47 PM (in response to White Lily Films)

          There is a problem with Encore Blu-ray that results in black gaps in some otherwise seamless workflows. Let's ignore that for the moment.

           

          You have discovered parts of the process, but seem to be missing parts also.

           

          As you noted, the "outro" part is done by selecting the menu button, selecting the transitions tab, and selecting a video asset.

           

          The intro is a motion background asset (video and audio if desired), the button highlights appear only at the loop point. Upon repeating, the menu only goes back to the loop point. You must build the visible parts of the buttons (the non-highlights) into the motion background. This has generally been done in After Effects, bringing your menu in its final versions (all buttons in position etc), into AE as a psd asset, and using it to make sure all elements are positioned correctly.

           

          Help pages:

           

          Adobe Encore * Menu timing and looping

           

          Adobe Encore * Using After Effects to enhance menus

           

          While there is no dynamic link between Encore CS6 and After Effects CC, I just tested and if you use the Encore "Create After Effects Composition" it sends the psd file to AE CC and creates a new composition with appropriate settings. AE no longer has mpeg export, so you export from AE to AME.